Sprinkler-nozzle.



Ru-M. HUNTER.

SPRINKLER NOZZLE.

APPLICATHIN man was. m3.

, 1 60,6 1 2. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRINKLER-NOZZLE.

Application filed December 9, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Sprinkler-Nozzles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an effective automatic sprinkler nozzle for fire extinguishing purposes at a low cost.

My object, further, is to so construct the means for holding the valve piece upon its seat that it may be formed of stamped sheet metal and easily assembled; and in the operative condition provide a spring pressure to hold the valve piece upon its seat and compensate for expansion and contraction and prevent leakage due to setting of the parts, a cause which in prior constructions frequently caused leakage and resulting damage by water dripping to the merchandise below the sprinkler nozzle.

My object is also to so construct and organize the locking means for holding the valve piece upon its seat and automatically releasing it under the application of heat, that it is responsive to quickly and effectively release the valve piece and eject the parts composing the said means out of the path of the water; the construction being such that it is sure in its action, avoiding all hesitancy or false releasing movements between the parts and so formed that the spring impulse produced upon fusion of the solder will positively cause the parts to be thrown out of obstructive positions to the water thereby permitting the latter to be eifectively sprayed by the spray head or distributer.

My invention consists of features of construction adapted for insuring the foregoing objects to be secured, the same being fully set out hereinafter and more specifically defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a sprinkler nozzle embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken on line a:a: of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts employed for holding the valve piece upon its seat in an unassembled association: and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bell crank lever of the strut mechanism.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Serial No. 805,513.

2 is the nozzle body and may be square or other polygonal shape, and is provided with the thoroughfare 4 having the valve seat 3 at the top and the screw threaded nipple 5 at the bottom for attachment to the piping. The upper portion of the body has the yoke portion 6, the side members of which unite at the top in the hub 7.

9 is the distributer head and is preferably formed of stamped sheet metal and riveted to the screw threaded shank 8 which is screwed through the hub 7 of the yoke. W'hen in final adjusted position, the shank 8 is held against turning by the pin 11 which passes through both the hub and shank. The lower end of the shank terminates in a rounded end 10 which contacts with the socket 20 of the angular member 19 of the strut structure for holding the valve piece 12 down tightlv upon its seat.

The valve piece 12 is of stamped sheet metal and is provided with a central depression 14 on its upper surface and with a plurality of projections 13 from its bottom which act to centralize the valve piece upon its seat. The projections 13 may be formed by dies to insure accuracy and cheapness. A thin washer of very ductile copper or other metal 15 may be employed between the valve seat and valve piece as shown. and this too should be stamped to provide recesses or openings into which the projections 13 of the valve piece may enter and by which this ductile washer is positioned.

Referring more specifically to the strut between the valve piece 12 and the end 10 of the screw threaded shank 8, said strut consists of the post 16 engaging at the bottom the valve piece 12, and at the top the bell crank lever 19, the short arm of which rests against the end 10 of the screw threaded shank 8, and the long arm of which engages a lever 24 linked at its lower end to the post 16 by the link QT and held at its upper end to the long arm of the bell crank lever 19 by a locking device 33 having its parts united by fusible solder and which releases the lever when sufficient heat is applied to fuse the solder. The post or strut 16 is formed of stamped sheet metal and is substantially rectangular, it also has its upper end 18 bent slightly in an oblique direction and is preferably somewhat contracted as to width to provide a pivotal bearing in the socket 23 of the bell crank lever 19. The lower por tion of the post or strut is contracted into a more or less pointed end 17 which fits into the socket 11 in the top of the valve piece 12; and moreover, the sides of the strut adjacent to its lower part are preferably notched as at 30 to receive the sides of the link 27 and hold it from dropping down. The bell crank lever 19 is formed of stamped sheet metal and has its short arm made with a recess or socket 20 and close to it at the juncture of the two arms, and on the opposite side to the socket 20 there is provided an elongated socket or bearing 23 in which the upper end 18 of the post is seated; and the long arm of this bell crank lever is substantially rectangular with the lower end 21 bent outward and also provided with a ver tical slot 22. As a further means of strengthening the angular portion of this bell crank lever, I provide rib portions 29 which are produced by stamping into the bend of the lever, depressions which force the metal downward on the other side, such portions acting as ribs and which also act as the terminal ends of the socket 23. This constructicn provides a very strong bend in the bell crank lever and also a clearly defining socket bearing for the upper end of the post or strut. The recess or socket 20 is spherical, so that the rounded end 10 of the screw threaded shank 8 may be rotated therein when applying the requisite tension. The locking lever 21 is also of stamped sheet metal and its upper or long arm is provided with a vertical slot 28 which corresponds to the vertical slot 22 in the bell crank lever 19; and moreover, I prefer to recess the outer surface of this locking le ver on each side of the slot as indicated at 32 in Fig. and the short or lower end of this locking lever I prefer to form with reverse curves to provide respectively a socket bearing 25 to receive the lower end 21 of the bell crank lever 19 and the oppositely directed socket 26 which engages the link 27. The link 27 is also stamped sheet metal and connects the lower end of the locking lever 21 with the strut 16, as clearly indicated, and said link is held from falling down by being received in the notches 30 of the strut and the socket bearing 26 of the lever 21. One corner of the aperture in the link may be enlarged, as at 31 (Figs 3 and 5), by which the link may be made to provide clearance space suflicient to enable it to be passed over the strut 16. The locking device 33 consists of two pieces of stamped sheet metal, one fitting into the other and being united by fusible solder. As shown in Fig. 1, one of these pieces 31 is bent upon itself and has a T-shaped cross section, the other of which parts 35 is bent in U-shape with wide flaring tops 35*, and this fits over the T-shaped portion as shown. When these parts are so fitted they are dipped into fusible solder which thoroughly coats them. and at the same time unites them. This locking device is then of the general character shown in Fig. 5, and in assembling the parts is slipped upward with the portion 31 received in the slot 22 of the bell crank lever 19 and the slot 28 of the locking lever 21, the said levers respectively pre: ing against the back flange portions 31 of the part 31, and forward against the flange portions 35, so that the said levers cannot spread. is a further security in holding the locking device 33 in position, and also strengthening the part 35 in its relation to the lever 21 so that it cannot be bent or displaced by hard usage, I prefer to solder the flanges 35 to the lever 21 by the solder portions 37. Furthern'iore. by these flanges 37 being received in the recess portions 32 of the lever 21, it is evident that this acts as a still greater protection, permitting the projecting end to be shortened and also more positively positioning the part 35 on the lever. In view of the fact that the levers 19 and 21 are not usually parallel, and as the two parts 31 and 35 have their general flanges parallel and are soldered before being assembled, it is desirable that provision shall be made to insure proper contact of the flanges 31 with the lever 19, so as not to put any irregular strain upon the connection of the flanges 35 with the locking lever 21. and this I accomplish by stamping up in the rear flanges 31 the transverse rib portions 36 which act as fulcrum points contacting with the rear surface of the lever 19 on a substantially medial line between the top and bottom edges of the parts 31 and 35. In this way. the flanges 33* may contact throughout their length with the lever 21 and a proper connection may be had with the bell crank lever irrespective of the angular relation of the two levers 19 and 24. In practice, the part 31 may be of heavier metal than the part 35, though this is not essential.

In the operation of the device, the heat first causes the solder 37 to fuse, releasing the flanges from the locking lever 21 and the solder between the members 31 and 35 of the fusible member also fuses, thereby releasing the locking lever. hen the free end of the locking lever 21 is forced toward the angle member 19 of the strut in aseern bling the parts, and held in such position by the fusible connecting mem er, the strut member 19, as well as the locking member, is put under elastic tension. and this tension is exerted when the fusible member releases the locking member to cause it to fly out at its free end to positively force the part of the fusible member from off the part 31 thereof to quickly and positively disconnect the members 21 and 19. lVhen the locking member 21 is thus liberated, it is rotated about its axis of connection with the link 27 by the outward thrust of the end 21 of the angle member 19 of the strut. This action releases the locking lever 24 and then the post 16. The combined spring action of the angle member and the upward thrust by the valve piece upon the post causes both of the parts 16 and 19 to be thrown to one side and the former carries with it the link 27. The valve piece follows the other 9. parts in their flight and leaves a clear unobstructed passage for the water from the nozzle 3 to the spray head or distributer 9 by which it is caused to be distributed in the form of falling spray. The rotation of the angle member 19 about the end 18 of the post, causes its short arm to strike the post at one side and throw it laterally out of the zone of the distributer head, this action being facilitated by the contact of this short arm with the end 10 of the adjusting screw 8. The lateral projection of the parts 16 and 19 carry with them the member 34 of the lock.

The various portions making up the strut for holding the valve piece upon its seat, the valve piece itself and the distributer head are all made of stamped and formed sheet metal, and hence are accurate in form or shape and provide the highest eificiency with the least cost.

I have shown the construction of my invention in the form which I have found best adapted to commercial practice, and while I prefer the same. I do not confinemyself to the details as these may be modified or varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sprinkler nozzle having a valve piece, a strut device to hold the valve piece closed. consisting of the following instrumentalities in association: a fulcrumed bell cranked lever having a short arm and a long arm slotted in the direction of its length, a. post having one end seated in the valve piece and the other end engaging the bell cranked lever slightly to one side of its fulcrum, a locking lever elastically pressed upon the end of the long arm of the bell cranked lever and having a longitudinal slot, a link in which the locking lever is ful crumed extending to and sustained by the post, and a fusible link connection extending through the slots of the bell cranked lever and the locking lever for holding them in position under spring tension, said locking lever being out of direct contact with the;il bell cranked lever except at its extreme en 2. A sprinkler nozzle having a valve piece, combined with a strut device for holding the valve piece closed, consisting of the follow ing instrumentalities in association: a post pressing upon the valve piece, a fulcrumed bell cranked lever having one arm pressing upon the post to force it toward the valve piece, a locking lever movable relatively to but fulcrumed to the post and yieldingly pressing upon the free end of the other arm of the bell cranked lever, and means having a fusible metal joint, one end connecting with the locking lever and the other end connecting with the bell cranked lever at a point intermediate of its connection with the strut and the locking lever.

3. A sprinkler nozzle, having a valve piece, combined with a strut device to hold the valve piece in position, said strut device formed of articulated parts and including a locking lever fulcrumed relatively to one of the parts and pressing with elastic pressure upon the other of said parts, and fusible means connecting the locking lever with the part of the strut upon which it presses with elastic pressure, and comprising two portions united by a fusible joint said portions entirely covered with a coating of fusible solder.

4. A sprinkler nozzle having a valve piece, combined with a strut device for holding the valve piece closed, consisting of the following instrumentalities in association: a post pressing upon the valve piece, a fulcrumed bell cranked lever having one arm pressing upon the post to force it toward the valve piece, a locking lever movable relatively to but fulcrumed to the post and yieldingly pressing upon the free end of the other arm of the bell cranked lever, a link extending around the post and providing a bar on which the locking lever is yieldingly fulcrumed, and metal means having a fusible joint connecting the free end of the locking lever with the bell cranked lever at a point intermediate of its connections with the post and locking lever, said connection being held by friction only With the bell cranked lever and by a soldered joint with the locking lever.

5. A sprinkler nozzle having a valve piece and means for holding it closed and including two levers in fulcurmed connection, said levers having slotted portions, and fusible means for holding said levers in position under tension, said means extending through the slotted openings in the levers and formed of two portions united by fusible solder, one of the parts having longitudinal flanges resting against one of the levers and the other of the portions having transverse fulcrumed flanges loosely resting against the other of the levers.

6. A sprinkler nozzle having a valve piece and means for holding it closed including two main levers in fulcrumed connection, a locking lever linked to one of the main levers and pressing against a free end of the other of the main levers, said. locking lever slotted and recessed at the sides of its slot, and means connecting the locking lever With the main lever upon Which the said locking lever presses, consisting of a part extending from the last mentioned articulated lever through the slot of the locking lever, and a U-shaped part soldered to the end of the said first mentioned part and having lateral flanges fitting into the recessed portions of the locking lever and soldered therein With fusible solder.

7. A sprinkler nozzle having a strut device for holding the valve piece closed, said strut device provided with a hell cranked lever of stamped sheet metal having at its bend an elongated socket said bent portion having two ribs pressed upon its under side connecting the arms of the bell cranked lever for strength and forming terminal abutments for the elongated socket.

In testimony of Which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

R. M. HUNTER. Witnesses:

E. W. SMITH, C. E. KLEINFELDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

